Walt Disney chairman-CEO gets 20% pay hike from previous year

The total value of Iger’s pay package rose to a hefty $40.2 million for the year ended Sept. 30 from $33.4 million in 2011, including a $2.5 million base salary, about $19 million worth of stock and stock options, a $16.5 million bonus and other items, according to a proxy statement filed with the SEC.

The board said the bonus in particular “reflected the (compensation) committee’s assessment of Mr. Iger’s strong leadership and vision in driving the company toward the attainment of many significant long-term strategic goals” citing the launch of a new cruise ship, the opening of Cars Land at Disney California Adventure, the rollout of Disney Channel into a number of key emerging markets and the renewal of several long-term affiliate deals for the cable networks and ABC. Disney also released Marvel’s “The Avengers,” a box office giant, “demonstrating the significant long- term value created from the Marvel acquisition,” the proxy said.

Iger most recently led negotiation to acquire Lucasfilm, which closed at the end of December.

The proxy, which lists salaries of public companies’ five highest-paid execs, said chief financial officer Jay Rasulo’s package totaled $12.2 million, from $11.1 million in fiscal 2011. General Counsel Alan Braverman earned $8.3 million, up from $7.8 million. Kevin Mayer, exec VP of corporate strategy and business development and Jayne Mayer, head of human resources, pulled in packages of, respectively, $4.2 million and $3.9 million.

Disney will hold its annual shareholders meeting on March 6 in Phoenix.